Strange cutout - Westie?

[RF Lighting]

Spotted this on a job today. Guess it's been there a while.

Both fuses are live. I only tested with a voltstick as I didn't want to disturb the cutout, so not sure if they're on the same phase.

The feeder cable is a 3 wire PILC, and the cores look about 25mm², so it doesn't appear to be an old 3 phase and neutral supply.

This is in a domestic property in a suburban street not too far out of the city centre.

I was there pricing up for rewiring the place. Currently there appears to be no earth from the suppliers, no bonding, and Zs read 3.5Ω at a socket next to the rewireable fuse box!

 

[westie101]

Different!

 

[Guitarguy]

I hae a feeling this may be left over from the days of dc mains, +200v 0v -200v (guessing the actual voltages.). Now it is probably a split phase supply with a different phase on each fuse. They are probs only rated to 30a and the whole thing looks lined with our friend asbestos

 

[wundaboy]

Is that a cut off cable poking out of the red fuse carrier? I presume that's live too. I'd get them out to rectify a dangerous situation if so.

 

[RF Lighting]

No, it just appears to be some fabric off an old cable. The top of the red fuse doesn't appear to be live. Presumably the fuse wire has been removed.

There is certainly some asbestos in there. I will be putting a call in to the DNO to have this replaced, and hopefully get an earth terminal too.

 

[AdrianUK]

I agree with Guitarguy .... its a left over from the old DC days. Loads of similar around Notts area too